Anime returns for special on December 31st, then new game hits PS Vita April 24th

Sword Art Onlinereturns to anime for an Extra Edition anime special, recapping the Aincrad and Fairy Dance arcs and including new footage on December 31st.

In its original story, the characters accept an ALO underwater quest when they learn of Yui's wish to see a whale. Discovering that Suguha/Leafa can't swim, Asuna takes the girls to a real world pool for training. Meanwhile, Kirito is having mysterious meetings.

Aniplex has announced that special airing in Japan will now be a worldwide simulcast, with the special being simulcast on Crunchyroll on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 7:00am Pacific Time for North America, South America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Then, SAO is back again on April 24th for PS Vita Game Hollow Fragment, featuring original character Filia (voiced by Rina Hidaka - Accel World's Yuniko Kōzuki/Scarlet Rain)), the familiar crew, Gun Gale Online's Sinon (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) and PSP game Infinity Moment's original character Strea (voiced by Misawa Sachika - Accel World's Kuroyukihime).

------Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.